In “A Raisin in the Sun”, written by Lorraine Hansberry, we see how the relationship between characters change and develop through how each character handles adversity within the story. As we are introduced to the characters Beneatha, Lena (mama), and Travis, we learn what each of their dreams is to do with the life insurance money from Lena’s late husband. We learn that Travis is very driven around his dreams and wants a better life for him and his family. Travis’s ideas of creating a new life are bold and risky, which creates hesitancy for Lena. Lena says in Act 1 Scene 2, “No…something has changed. You something new, boy. In my time we was worried about not being lynched and getting to the north if we could and how to stay alive and still have a pinch of dignity too…now here come you and Beneatha talking about things we ain’t never even thought about hardly, me and your daddy. You ain’t satisfied or proud of nothing we done…You my children-but how different we become” (74). Here, Walter’s dreams of opening a liquor store are causing rising tension between Lena and Walter. Lena already feels conflicted with having to listen to both Beneatha and Walter’s dreams with what to do with the check, but she is noticing that Walter is acting almost irrationally and ungrateful for what he already has, that she didn’t have. This also begins to explore the long-term issues of race and how far Lena had to come to be able to put a roof over her children’s heads in the early to mid 1900s. Her perspective differs heavily from Walter’s due to the different ways they grew up, and Lena doesn’t want Walter to forget what is already in front of him. Walter and Beneatha are so focused on using the money so quickly and drastically, and Lena may just want them to take a step back and realize what a gift it is to have this money and to attempt to think of the family as a whole, rather than using the money for his own personal gain. We see Walter’s mind almost jumping the gun to big dreams, whereas Lena perceives Walter’s eagerness in a negative sense because he is forgetting so many things that they may want to focus on before opening the liquor store, like Travis having a bed, a better home to live in, keeping the family together and safe, etc. I am curious how Lena is going to handle her son’s passions and how it will affect their relationship as the play continues.
Also in Act 1, we see that Ruth is left with a new challenge for not only herself, but the family as a whole. Ruth finds out that she is pregnant with her second son. Once Lena finds out, she immediately starts asking questions about the pregnancy, and can quickly tell that Ruth is not ecstatic over her announcement. Ruth knows that having another baby in the current situation they are in was not only not part of the plan but will most likely have consequences with her relationship with Walter. Walter as we know is passionate about his very big dreams, which are already quite the reach for the families economic standing. So as Walter is conflicting with Mama and Beneatha over what is the right thing to do for the family in terms of the insurance money, there is a whole other layer of conflict. Lena says, “It is my business- where is he going to live, on the roof?” (58). Mama quickly tells Ruth that she does think it’s wonderful, but Travis sleeps on the couch, so where would a new baby stay? They are already running around to try to make ends meet as time continues, so an addition to an already complicated household will be yet another challenge. Ruth, like many African American women during this time period, has to have a main focus of family. Hansberry writes, “When the world gets ugly enough- a woman will do anything for her family. The part that’s already living.” (75) She works a domestic job for a white family and must prioritize her kids as well as making ends meet; let alone think about herself for a while. finds herself in a tough situation. She knows that she is already putting a lot of financial strain on the family, but what affect her new baby may have in the future, especially with the possibility of risking an investment on the liquor store business. Since Walter is so passionate and eager about the possibility of the liquor store investment, Ruth feels almost guilty that not only does she have to further let go of her dreams and aspirations for herself to take care of her family, but also feels guilty that because she is pregnant, she could be the reason that Walter is unable to live out his dreams and aspirations of the liquor store business. She knows that this investment idea was extremely risky to begin with, but now there is a new very large risk factor that they will have to think about.
Discussion Questions:
- In “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, there is a primary focus on the importance of dreams. How might this relate to the themes of “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes?
- Throughout the play, we see characters challenged by traditional stereotypes, whether that be through gender, race, or class. What affects do these characters face because of these common stereotypes? (example: Beneatha wanting to be a doctor in 1950s America)
Works Cited:
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Random House, 1997.
Hi Kerry,
I really enjoyed reading your blog post, it shows a strong analysis and deep understanding of the text. I particularly enjoyed your commentary on the news of Ruth’s pregnancy. This scene was difficult to read in that I think it blatantly displayed the hardships women, specifically women in poverty had to face during the time. The fact that Ruth is pregnant, and her first thought has to be to abort the child, and furthermore, that she immediately feels guilty for the fact that this may disturb Walter’s dreams is quite sad. I found it particularly difficult to read Walter’s reaction to the pregnancy, in that he shows no empathy for Ruth’s position, and doesn’t comfort her at all.
To tie this to your discussion question, “In “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, there is a primary focus on the importance of dreams. How might this relate to the themes of “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes?,”l I think that the contrast between the prevalence of Walter’s dreams in the play versus Ruth’s shows touches on the disparity that Hughes highlights in his poem, “Let America Be America Again.”
Although Walter’s dreams of owning a liquor store are not being realized, I think it is notable that his dreams are a main point in the plot that comes up over and over again. Ruth’s immediate reaction to her pregnancy is that it may get in the way of Walter’s dreams, and therefore she should abort the child. There is no attention to Ruth’s desires or dreams, in fact, the reader is not privy at all to what Ruth truly desires. This contrast brought me to one of Hughes’ points about the American Dream. In lines 25-26, he writes, “I am the young man, full of strength and hope, /Tangled in that ancient endless chain,” and in lines 37-28, he writes: “I am the man who never got ahead, /The poorest worker bartered through the years.” Hughes is describing an aspect of the failure of the American dream, the trickery and deceit involved. Walter is so fixated on his dream for bettering his life and the life of his family, that he is neglecting his family along the way. Mama describes the way his hopes are affecting Walter’s life, “Seem like you are getting to a place where you always tied up in some kind of knot about something. But if anyone ask you ‘bout it you just yell at ‘em and bust out the house and go out and drink somewheres. Lee, people can’t live like that. Ruth’s a good, patient girl in her way— but you getting to be too much. Boy, don’t make the mistake of driving that girl away from you” (72).
Mama’s statement brings light to something that Hughes’ poem doesn’t really discuss– who the concept of the American Dream is marketed towards: men, and then the effect of this on women: neglect, guilt, hopelessness, etc.
Hi Kerry, I enjoyed reading your blog post and hearing your ideas on this work of literature thus far. I think you did a great job at pointing out the major issues and themes associated within Act I of A Raisin in the Sun. I liked your question regarding traditional stereotypes, and I would like to elaborate more on that. We learn about the family’s economic status and how they do not have much, if any, to spare. Everyone is so desperate for Mama’s check to come in that tensions are very high. We see how the family tries to make ends meet, but as blacks living in America during this time, it was extremely hard to find a high paying job. Walter speaks “Sometimes it’s like I can see the future stretched out in front of me… a big, looming blank space, full of nothing” (73). I believe this is an important line as we can feel the frustration and it highlights the struggle of being a low-class, black American in the 1900s. Nothing comes easy because of the color of their skin, and as a reader, it truly makes you think about, and feel the situation at hand.
Hi Kerry, I really liked your interpretation of the text. I think you did a great job at addressing the main issues that arise in act 1 and how certain characters felt towards those issues/ information. I also think the quotes you used within the text correlate very well with how you dissected them. Another quote from act 1 that I think would relate to your point of people feeling concerned about Ruth’s pregnancy is when Mama finally tells Walter about the pregnancy, and mentions she is ready to abort the child due to their status in life at the moment. Walter does not accept this as says that there is no way that she would do that, Mama then stands up for Ruth and says “…Your wife say she going to destroy your child. And I’m waiting to hear you talk like him and say we a people who give children life, not who destroys them—(she rises) I’m waiting to see you stand up and look like your daddy and say we done give up one baby to poverty and that we ain’t going to give up nary another one…I’m waiting.” (77) The carelessness coming from walter as he does not see the need to protect his unborn child and step up as a father figure and provider upsets not only Mama but also Ruth, she cannot fathom how she is to make a child with someone who does not want it and that is what drove her to the abortion in the first place. To discuss one of your discussion questions, I think that dreams being a recurring topic within the writing relates to Langston Hughes poem by addressing not the wants but the needs that are needed within the African American society and how the disregard of recurring issues from those within society and government causes a lack of belief in getting the simple things in life people deserve. The dreams outline the life of white Americans and the luxury they live in without realizing and taking those wants for granted while people are still fending for their needs.
Hey Kerry, I really liked this blog post and how you went into depth about how the characters change in the story. When something major comes into people’s lives that can change things for them it is not easy for those to agree on what to do with it, especially in a large family of varying ages. I like how you went into the different dreams and motives of the characters and how it ties into the questions.
The importance of dreams is easily connectable to Hughe’s writing because he exemplifies how difficult it is it achieve the broadest dream of all, the American dream. It’s clear everyone in the Younger family has their own dream but also don’t have the American dream themselves, so they have two things to strive for: Monetary stability and self-fulfillment. This ties together because they (Hughes and the Younger family) both don’t feel that embrace from America that white families do. Hughes states in “Let America be America again” “And finding only the same old stupid plan of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.” this line shows how nonwhite families and people are constantly overpowered and crushed by the influence of white people. They do not have the opportunities to thrive in a dog-eat-dog world as much as a white people does. This is also shown in the play, where Mama says in Act 1, scene 1 “Big Walter used to say, he’d get right wet in the eyes sometimes, lean his head back with the water standing in his eyes and say, “Seem like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams – but He did give us children to make them dreams seem worthwhile.” basically saying how even though they seem to have nothing, they have each other. Having one another is a big motivator for a reason to achieve the American dream, you want to make your lives with each other better than before, but only because you value each other so much and although it may be tough, it is not impossible.
Common stereotypes affect the characters in the play differently. Benethea wants to become a well-educated doctor, against what stereotypes of what a woman was in the 50’s, it was hard to be taken seriously as an educated person during the Jim crow era. Mama is not fond of this, as that is not what a typical woman did. Mama wants her home to be a safe place for her family and wants the typical American dream. Walter is not tied down by stereotypes either, dreaming big and wanting to further his family and help them get rich.
These family motives will make an interesting story about how this family navigates the world and their struggles.
Hi Kerry, I liked your blog post! I think this theme in the Raisin in the sun relates to “Let America be American Again” by The “raisin” in the sun symbolizes a non-living husk of the American Dream that was once ripe with potential. The dreams of the Youngers, at the surface, have been set aside to the point that they are unreachable. Throughout the Act 1 Scene 1 there are a lot of stereotypes for instaints, Beneatha symbolizes the shifting culture of women, those who want to be independent and strive for more than marriage. She also symbolizes the shift in African Americans, those who are standing up to an oppressive system and instead of assimilating into white culture to be successful are representing their heritage. Beneatha’s character also symboliezs, new attitudes of the time period regarding race and gender. She is interested in embracing her heritage rather than adopting white culture, she has chosen to attend college and pursue a career one dominated by white men, and she has no interest in marriage at this point in her life. Listen, I’m going to be a doctor. I’m not worried about who I’m going to marry yet-if I ever get married. “Oh, I probably will… but first I’m going to be a doctor, and George, for one, still thinks that’s pretty funny. I couldn’t be bothered with that. ” This quote shows how Beneatha is thinking differently than other women during that time period she has hopes and dreams of becoming and doing something more than she see’s her mother and sister-in law doing. She wants different opportunities.
Hey Kerry,
This discussion post was a good perspective on how adversity defines the characters in A Raisin in the Sun. This post shows how life’s challenges have impacted the play’s characters. In response to your first question, many connections exist between Act 1 of the play and the Langston Hughes poem, Let America Be America Again. Both writings surround the idea of the American Dream and how that way of thinking has changed. As you’ve mentioned in A Raisin in the Sun, the family wants to live out the American Dream but falls under pressure due to financial struggles. The family had a dream of becoming successful and living in a house; in Act 1, Ruth mentions, “You remember how we used to talk when Travis was born … about the way we were going to live … the kind of house … (She is stroking his head) Well, it’s all starting to slip away from us …” (Pg. 82.) The family was financially struggling for so long and are about to lose faith in the “dream” due to constant economic hardship.
In comparison to Langston Hughes’ poem, Hughes mentions how he hopes for America to become the “pioneer on the plain –
Seeking a home where he himself is free.” (Lines 3-4.) The family in the play has dreamt of moving out of the city and becoming accessible by living in their own home, but are tied down by the financial struggles of American life. Such struggles have killed the idea of the American Dream for the family and Langston Hughes. Both have faced the problems of economic instability and reflect those ideas through A Raisin in the Sun and Let America Be America Again.
In “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, there is a primary focus on the importance of dreams. How might this relate to the theme of “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes?
Kerry, I think your discussion post was not only well written, but an excellent demonstration of character analysis. I am particularly interested in your analysis of Lena. I couldn’t agree more with your stance on Lena as a character with high moral standards; you state that she is always looking out for the greater good of the family. To answer your discussion question of how the importance of dreams in “A Raisin in the Sun” relates to the theme of “Let America Be America Again,” I think that theme and significance of the “American dream” is very strong and both texts. Both texts are critical of the “American dream,” especially in Hughes’s poem. “Let America Be America Again” states “And all the hopes we’ve held/And all the flags we’ve hung, / The millions who have nothing for our pay—/Except the dream that’s almost dead today” (lines 58-61). These lines of poem are directly critiquing the “American dream.” Hughes claims that there never was an American dream for African Americans and other people of color. We see the same kind of critiques in “A Raisin in the Sun” with Walter’s aggressive feelings towards white people and the family’s unfortunate circumstances.
Hi Kerry I really enjoyed reading your blog post this week. You did a great job covering everything from the story’s first scene. When answering your first discussion question regarding the importance of dreams when comparing to Langstonn Hughes story. I think it relates very well because of how they are coming from the same background and struggles. Moving to the second question these characters are faced with numerous stereotypes that have negative affects. This may include things like trying to become a doctor like Beneatha wants to and other things such as the stereotypes we know about from history like segregation in schools, stores, etc. Overall I really enjoyed reading your blog post and look forward to your lecture in class this week!
Hi Kerry! I really enjoyed reading your post about A Rasin in the Sun. I wanted to talk about your first discussion question where you are looking to the connections between this play and the poem by Hughes. I really like how you choose to connect these two pieces of writing. The importance of dreams in this play is very noticeable right off the start. I think the way this relates to the poem by Hughes is because in the poem he is talking about the American Dream. He says things like “Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed”. Hughes talks about how America has never become the free land that it was meant to be. In the play it is seen that dreams are very important to the characters but there also seems to be this hidden feeling that they will never achieve these dreams because of the situation they have been put in. Both of these pieces of writing are talking about the lie that seems to be the America Dream because not everyone can achieve it.
Hi Kerry! I really enjoyed your blog post and your insights really got me thinking. I wanted to address your first discussion question, in which you are attempting to draw parallels between this play and the Hughes poem. I truly appreciate the way you linked both of these pieces of writing together. From the outset of the play, it is clear how important dreams are. This connects to Hughes’ poetry, in my opinion, because the poet discusses the American Dream in the poem. “Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed,” he urges. Hughes discusses why America has never grown into the idealized free land that it was intended to be. Dreams are evidently vital to the characters in the play, but there also seems to be a concealed belief that, given their current circumstances, they would never be able to fulfill these dreams. Since not everyone can realize the American Dream, these two works of writing discuss the seeming falsehood that is that goal.